Reverend John Samuel Huggins of Timmonsville, SC was a Methodist pastor
of a rural church. He invented in 1875 the first mechanical cotton
planter used in the South. His grandson, John M. Eaddy, memorialized
his personality and character in the poem that follows.

THE FIRST "HORSE" COTTON PLANTER
(Invented by John S. Huggins--1875)
by
John M. Eaddy

The tools my grandfather used he made himself
For the WAR had not long closed.
He placed them high on his shop's high shelf
Where 'children' never "nosed".

When I was small, quite a young boy
Over eighty years ago,
He made me a little axe for a toy.
As dull as any old "froe".
The reason why he said: "You see,
You must not use 'my' axe..."
Was 'cause it was to sharp for me
And I might pay the "TAX".

At that time folks had to use a hoe
To plant every kind of seed,
For a better way, none seemed to know
To make more rapid speed.

So Grandpa got himself a "cater"
And patented a machine he had planned,
T'was know as THE HUGGINS COTTON PLANTER,
The first one in all of the LAND.

His "Mule Machine" in one single day
Could plant eight acres well and good,
And at the Fair, while on display
Around it many people stood.

His trouble was in getting them made
To fill the great demand,
And many blacksmiths were well paid
To make them all by hand.

Grandpa's planter-plan is used today
And never much has changed;
In fact it's used promiscuously
With added parts arranged.

He was also a Methodist Preacher
Until he did resign,
And said "God's Book" was his teacher
And it taught "Love all mankind".

He was only in his seventies
When he passed away,
But lots of loving qualities
He left for us today.

I am now eighty-six years old
And do remember him well.
These facts to you that I have told,
Or, at least have tried to tell.

Source: The Promised Land.

There is a story mentioned by Beatrice Elizabeth Baker (Rabon), apparently
passed down from her grandfather John Durant Huggins, about his father
Rev. John Samuel Huggins: "He was quite a character. One time
he surprised the family by inviting, and bringing home for dinner, the
entire congregation of his church. Needless to say, things
became pretty exciting. Rev. John Samuel Huggins was a Baptist
Minister and pastor of the Muddy Creek Baptist Church at the time of his
death. (This story is also mentioned in the genealogy report, "John
Huggins, the First of See Wee Bay" by Bieman Otis Prince, Professional
Genealogist.) Another humorous story about Rev. John Samuel Huggins
can be found under the notes about his daughter, Frances "Fannie"
Huggins (b. April 15, 1916).

The estate settlement of John Samuel Huggins is in the Administration
Records of Williamsburg County, SC. It was administered by his son,
William Sylvester Huggins.

Source: Samuel Cornelius Rabon.

QUEEN OF SOUTH CAROLINA
by
Ruth (Dorrill) Thomas

An unusual human interest story concerning this family is told below
by a grand-daughter of Eliza (Eliza Louisa Ann Huggins) and Henry E. Eaddy,
Ruth (Dorrill) Thomas.

Great Aunt Fannie Huggins Cox, my grandmother's baby sister, was the
youngest of the large family of the Rev. John Samuel Huggins who was the
pastor to a rural church near Timmonsville, SC.

The unusual circumstances of her birth were notable and aroused the
sympathy and help of the parishioners. Aunt Fannie's mother, though
pregnant, rode sidesaddle to church. On the way home her horse became
frightened and ran away, throwing her off and breaking her hip. Without
competent medical help, her hip did not heal, and Aunt Fannie was born
while her mother still lay abed.

The ladies of the church came bearing gifts--and names for the new baby
girl. Her mother (Zylphia Ham), the tactful pastor's wife promised
to use them all, and so she wrote them down so that the preacher could
read them all in the baptismal service. Counting them, she found
only eleven names, the last of which was "Victoria" who was the Queen of
England. Wanting to choose a name of her own, she said that as South
Carolina had no queen, she would name her "Queen of South Carolina".
Thus Aunt Fannie was baptized as follows: Frances Cornelia Emerintha
Olevia Sarah Rebecca Julia Josephine Eugenia Sophronia Victoria Queen of
South Carolina.

Aunt Fannie married and bore several daughters (none of whom was given
any of her own names) and sons.

Several other descendents of John Samuel Huggins and Zilphia Ham appear
in the earlier Eaddy-Timmons-Huggins chapter.

Reverend John Samuel Huggins of Timmonsville, SC, invented in 1875 the
first mechanical cotton planter used in the South.